Best Gear for West Highland White Terriers

A harness that fits is the one that stays put and stops rubbing. Girth varies far more between individual dogs than between West Highland White Terriers and any other breed, so measure before you buy rather than ordering the size on the breed chart.

At 15-20 lbs a West Highland White Terrier sits in most brands' small band — but "Large" is a marketing word, not a measurement. Buy to the manufacturer's stated weight rating and the dog's measured length, because the same label covers very different sleeping surfaces from one brand to the next.

Heavy shedding means an undercoat rake or deshedding tool does the work a slicker brush only redistributes. Budget for the tool before the shampoo, and expect seasonal coat blow to set the pace.

High energy sets the toy budget: chase-and-fetch toys and chews get destroyed on a schedule, so durability per dollar matters more than the feature list. No toy substitutes for the exercise itself.

Trainability rated "Stubborn" means the payoff comes from what you are paying with. High-value training treats and short sessions move this breed further than any piece of hardware, which is worth knowing before you buy a training tool.

Bury a smelly treat or toy just below the surface in a dedicated sandbox or dirt patch. Your Westie's rodent-hunting ancestors will kick in instantly — they'll sniff, paw,

Drag a treat or piece of cooked meat along a winding path through the yard, then place the prize at the end. Westies were bred to track quarry through rough

Give your Westie a plush toy with a squeaker and let them work. Their primary goal is to locate and remove the squeaker with surgical precision. Swap in new squeaky

• •West Highland White Terriers were developed in Scotland specifically for their white coats, which made them easy
• •They weigh 15 to 20 pounds and stand 10 to 11 inches tall with a sturdy, compact build
• •Their harsh, straight white outer coat sits over a dense, soft undercoat and should ideally be hand-stripped
• •The breed's dark, piercing eyes and small erect ears give them an alert, intelligent expression that perfectly matches

• •Westies are bold, self-assured, and endlessly entertaining — they genuinely believe they're the most important being in any
• •They're affectionate with their families and generally friendly with strangers, though they won't hesitate to sound the alarm
• •With other dogs, they can be assertive and don't always recognize that some opponents are five times their
• •Training requires patience and humor; they're smart enough to learn anything but independent enough to decide whether it's

• •Westies need about 45 to 60 minutes of daily exercise, which can include brisk walks, backyard play,
• •They love digging and will excavate your garden with remarkable efficiency if left unsupervised, so providing a designated
• •Without enough mental and physical stimulation, they become yappy, destructive, and increasingly creative in finding trouble
• •Their small size makes them adaptable to apartment living as long as the exercise commitment is met

• •Atopic dermatitis (skin allergies) is the most common health issue in Westies, affecting a large percentage of
• •Westie lung disease (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) is a progressive condition unique to the breed that causes chronic coughing
• •Patellar luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, and inflammatory bowel disease round out the key concerns
• •With proper care, Westies live 13 to 15 years